Η φίλη μου δεν οδηγεί, προτιμά το μετρό.

My (female) friend does not drive, she prefers the metro.

Breakdown of Η φίλη μου δεν οδηγεί, προτιμά το μετρό.

• δεν: not
• η φίλη: the female friend
• μου: my
• το μετρό: the metro
• οδηγώ: to drive
• προτιμάω: to prefer

Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου δεν οδηγεί, προτιμά το μετρό.

Why does Greek use both η and μου in η φίλη μου for “my friend”?

Greek possession is typically expressed as definite article + noun + enclitic pronoun:

• η φίλη μου = the friend my = my friend
• Other examples: το βιβλίο μου (my book), η μητέρα σου (your mother)

You don’t say μου φίλη. The article is normally required with possessives.

Why is the article η and not ο or το?

Because φίλη is feminine. Greek articles agree with the noun’s gender:

• η φίλη (female friend, feminine)
• ο φίλος (male friend, masculine)
• το παιδί (child, neuter)

Can η φίλη μου mean “my girlfriend”?

Usually it means “my (female) friend.” For a romantic partner, Greek more typically uses:

• η κοπέλα μου (my girlfriend)
• η σύντροφός μου (my partner) Context can sometimes make η φίλη μου sound romantic, but by default it’s platonic.

Why is there no word for “she” before the verbs?

Greek often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Here, the subject is already expressed as η φίλη μου, so there’s no need for αυτή (“she”). You can add αυτή for emphasis or contrast: Αυτή δεν οδηγεί…

What verb forms are οδηγεί and προτιμά?

They are 3rd person singular, present tense:

• From οδηγώ (I drive): εγώ οδηγώ, εσύ οδηγείς, αυτός/η οδηγεί, εμείς οδηγούμε/οδηγάμε, εσείς οδηγείτε, αυτοί/ες οδηγούν(ε)
• From προτιμώ (I prefer): εγώ προτιμώ, εσύ προτιμάς, αυτός/η προτιμά, εμείς προτιμούμε/προτιμάμε, εσείς προτιμάτε, αυτοί/ες προτιμούν(ε)

Why is it δεν and not μην for negation?

• δεν negates statements: δεν οδηγεί (she doesn’t drive).
• μην is used with the subjunctive/imperatives and in certain subordinate contexts: να μην οδηγεί (that she not drive), μην οδηγείς! (don’t drive!).

Is the comma between the two clauses okay, or should there be a word like “but”?

Greek freely uses a comma to link related clauses. Your sentence is fine. You can also add a connector:

• Contrast: … , αλλά προτιμά το μετρό.
• Addition: … και προτιμά το μετρό. The comma alone already implies a contrast here.

Why is there a definite article before μετρό: προτιμά το μετρό?

Greek typically uses the definite article with general references to modes of transport. Saying προτιμά μετρό (no article) sounds odd in standard prose. After a preposition of means, you also keep it: πάει με το μετρό (goes by metro).

Does μετρό change form in different cases or have a plural?

No. μετρό is an indeclinable neuter loanword. It stays το μετρό in all cases, and it normally has no plural.

How do you pronounce the tricky consonants here?

• δ in δεν is like the “th” in “this” [ð].
• γ before ι/ε (as in οδηγεί) is a soft, y-like fricative [ʝ], not a hard “g.”
• ρ in μετρό is a tapped r [ɾ]. A rough IPA: [i ˈfili mu ðen oðiˈʝi, protiˈma to meˈtɾo].

What’s going on with the accent marks in φίλη, οδηγεί, προτιμά, μετρό?

Modern Greek writes one stress mark per stressed word:

• φίλη (stress on the first syllable)
• οδηγεί (stress on the last; the ending -εί is stressed here)
• προτιμά (stress on the last)
• μετρό (stress on the last) The enclitic μου is unstressed and never takes an accent.

Are οδηγάει and προτιμάει also correct?

Yes. Many -ώ verbs have parallel -άω forms:

• οδηγεί ~ οδηγάει
• προτιμά ~ προτιμάει The -άει forms are common in speech; the shorter forms are a bit more formal/neutral.

Does the Greek present mean both “doesn’t drive” and “isn’t driving”?

Yes. The present covers both simple and progressive meanings. Δεν οδηγεί can mean “she doesn’t drive (in general)” or “she isn’t driving (right now).” Context clarifies; adverbs can help: συνήθως δεν οδηγεί (usually doesn’t drive), τώρα δεν οδηγεί (isn’t driving now).

If I want to say “she can’t drive,” is δεν οδηγεί the best choice?

Not exactly. Δεν οδηγεί states that she doesn’t drive. For inability:

• Δεν ξέρει να οδηγεί. (She doesn’t know how to drive.)
• Δεν έχει δίπλωμα. (She doesn’t have a license.)
• Δεν μπορεί να οδηγήσει/να οδηγεί. (She can’t drive.)

How would this change with a male friend or with plural friends?

• Male friend: Ο φίλος μου δεν οδηγεί, προτιμά το μετρό.
• Plural female friends: Οι φίλες μου δεν οδηγούν, προτιμούν το μετρό.
• Plural male/mixed: Οι φίλοι μου δεν οδηγούν, προτιμούν το μετρό.

Can I replace “the metro” with a pronoun to avoid repetition?

Yes. Neuter singular object pronoun το:

• Το προτιμά. (She prefers it.) Here το refers back to το μετρό.

Why is it δεν (with -ν) before οδηγεί?

Before a vowel (like the initial “ο” of οδηγεί), the -ν in δεν is kept. In modern usage many speakers keep it almost always, but the traditional rule particularly preserves it before vowels and certain consonants.

How would I say “She prefers the metro over the bus”?

Add από to mark the comparison:

• Προτιμά το μετρό από το λεωφορείο.